BACKGROUND Insect eggshells must combine protection for the yolk and embryo with provisions for respiration and for the entry of sperm, which are ensured by aeropyles and micropyles, respectively. Insects which oviposit the eggs in an egg-case have a double problem of respiration as gas exchange then involves two barriers. An example of this situation is found in the cockroach Blattella germani...

A new genus and species of sponge-associated pontoniine shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae: Pontoniinae) is described from northern part of Formosa Island (Taiwan). The new species can be clearly recognized by convex robust nail-like apices on dactyli of both pereiopods II--a unique morphological structure among pontoniine shrimps. Morphological differences from all known sponge-associa...

We present an technique for developing a single, aperiodic (or universal) tile that does not overlap. We provide two examples, constructed by converting overlapping regions of Gummelt’s decagon cover to interleaved regions in a porous tile. Each is a bounded, dense, sponge-like set of points in 2 that tiles the plane aperiodically. One tile has measure zero, the other has positive measure every...

Anode-supported micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) offers many advantages over the electrolyte and cathode-supported confgurations in terms of simplicity, reliability, and efciency. In such design, the anode substrates should possess a highly porous structure, provide active sites reaction as well as serving good mechanical strength. This structure is desired to ...

Single crystals in nature often demonstrate fascinating intricate porous morphologies rather than classical faceted surfaces. We attempt to grow such crystals, drawing inspiration from biogenic porous single crystals. Here we show that nanoporous single crystals of gold can be grown with no need for any elaborate fabrication steps. These crystals are found to grow following solidification of a ...

The South China Sea is a special reservoir of sponges of which prokaryotic communities are less studied. Here, a new record of the sponge Dactylospongia elegans is reported near the coast of Jinqing Island in the South China Sea, and its prokaryotic community is comprehensively investigated. Sponge specimens displayed lower microbial diversity compared with surrounding seawater. At the phylum l...

Marine sponges are frequently inhabited by a wide range of associated invertebrates, including caridean shrimps. Symbiotic shrimps are often considered to be commensals; however, in most cases, the relationship with sponge hosts remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that sponge-inhabiting shrimps are often parasites adapted to consumption of sponge tissues. First, we provide detailed examination...

the down-flow hanging sponge (dhs) reactor, which was developed for post-treatment of effluent from up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (uasb) process treating sewage, uses polyurethane sponge as media to retain biomass. wastewater is trickled from the top of the reactor and purified by microorganisms retained both inside and outside of the sponge media as the wastewater flows vertically down thr...

The recognition that all macroorganisms live in symbiotic association with microbial communities has opened up a new field in biology. Animals, plants, and algae are now considered holobionts, complex ecosystems consisting of the host, the microbiota, and the interactions among them. Accordingly, ecological concepts can be applied to understand the host-derived and microbial processes that gove...

Migration of left in foreign bodies like gauze sponge into intestine, stomach, urinary bladder and their extrusion through umbilicus or rectum is well known. We report a unique case wherein a gauze sponge was left in abdominal cavity 25 years back at the time of initial surgery. This patient who had not undergone any thoracic surgery in the past was recently subjected to posterolateral thoracot...